Monday, September 27, 2010

So what are we voting on anyway?

It has happened to all of us. We go to the polls feeling somewhat educated about most of the candidates on the ballot. After watching countless TV ads and being bombarded by so much literature, you can't help but have a general sense of who is running for each race. You go down the ballot feeling quite confident until you come to the section of ballot proposals.

“Huh?! What is this? What does all this fancy language mean? I didn't know anything about this! If I vote yes, how will this affect me?”

These are just a few of the questions voters have asked when they get to this part of the ballot. But fear no more! We are here to untangle all of this political jargon and tell you exactly what you need to know. Ready? Let’s begin!

First, there are 3 amendments that voters will vote on. If passed, the Missouri Constitution will be modified with these changes. Amendment proposals are put on the ballot only after the majority in the state legislature approves it.

Amendment #1: All you’re voting on with this one is whether county assessors, who are usually appointed, should be voted into office in 3 of the 4 four counties in St. Louis (which are St. Louis, Jefferson, and St. Charles).

Why is this amendment on here? Well, because some believe that assessors will be held more accountable when assessing property if they have to go through the election process.

Amendment #2: The second amendment deals former prisoners of war. The amendment states that disabled POWs should be exempted from property taxes.

Why is this amendment on here? Because it is believed that our military veterans do not receive the help they deserve after serving our country. 

Amendment #3: The last one is about real estate taxes. The amendment proposes that no taxes should be added when property is sold or transferred.

Why is this amendment on here? The idea is that if transfer taxes are prohibited, then there will be no double taxation.

And last but not least are two propositions that met the required number of voter signatures to be placed on the ballot.

Proposition A: with this proposition voters will decide whether they want to decide whether to keep the earnings tax that is currently implemented in St. Louis and Kansas City. What’s an earnings tax you ask? Well basically the state of Missouri takes out 1% of the money earned by people who work or live in the two cities. If approved, voters will decide at the next election whether they want to keep the tax and all other cities in the state will be prohibited from enforcing the earnings tax.

Supporters: Let Voters Decide and The Show-Me Institute                                        
  •         They say that voters have the right to decide whether they want this tax or not
  •          Many businesses are hesitant to move into these cities because of these taxes, which means less jobs available for the residents
  •          It is believed that if the tax was eliminated, over 5,000 would be created
Opponents: city officials in St. Louis and Kansas City
  •          Leaders in the two cities argue that the tax is necessary for day-to-day services
  •          The tax brings in $200 million a year and loss of that money means a loss of jobs
Proposition B: this amendment is also known as the “puppy mills initiative.” The initiative is an attempt to regulate dog breeding facilities. The proposition asks for breeders to have no more than 50 dogs at a time and to provide them with adequate shelter, food, and veterinary care. If passed, animal cruelty will become a misdemeanor crime.

  • There are over 3,000 puppy mills in the state that inflict harm on these animals
  • Dogs should be treated fairly and get the respect they deserve
  • The initiative is harmful to the agricultural business
  • It is a trick to regulate CAFO’s (concentrated animal farming operations)
So there is a brief outline of what you can expect to vote on in the polls in November. We will be looking more closely at these amendments and propositions as the election gets closer but hopefully this will help you have a greater understanding of what you'll be voting for. 

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